Mural in Melboune of heroic volunteer firefigher Paul Parker telling Prime Minister Scott Morrison to get fucked. Vic police weren't fans of the mural by @van.nishing, painted (with permission) on a wall on Lygon St on Monday. Here's his account of what happened:
I was arrested, handcuffed and charged in hazy (smoke-filled) daylight for criminal damage (ie graffiti) by three Victoria Police officers in front of my young children just after completing the mural. And the cops also threatened to call DHS to remove my kids so I could be transported separately to the police station. After about half an hour of typical Vic Pol intimidation - taking my belongings, searching my car, and talking to my children as though they (the cops) were angelic saviours, I was eventually able to clarify the permission I'd had to paint the artwork of the legendary firefighter.
They quite reluctantly backed off and withdrew the arrest charge, although they're still sending a court summons.
As many climate protesters, graffiti and street artists know, the state government of Victoria and i's police force are not friends of political art in public places, especially when done on private and state owned property without permission. But even in this case, when permission was given, and the willingness of people to see a mural like this in full public view given the fire emergency, the state will still find it a threat to business as usual, and seek to forcefully limit its exposure.
The repressive actions of police must be resisted."
